New Jan Akkerman Album out today

It is called Close Beauty. Check out the details here The track Retrospection explores the Focus link.

Eruption Part 4

Eruption Part 3

Eponymous Titles

Some 15 Focus tracks refer to individuals real or imaginary.

Orfeus and Euridice are, of course, from Greek mythology as is Orion. Venus is from Roman mythology (as in Ode to Venus on Focus 9).

Nobody seems to know who Bennie Helder is. No doubt, like Elspeth of Nottingham, he is imagined. (Turns oout it was the name Thijs used fr himself as a boy).

Le Clochard (meaning tramp in French) could be included here and may be Anonymus.

Sylvia, of course, is Sylvia Alberts; Tommy, Tom Barlage; Pim, Thijs's grandson (not Pim Jacobs as I had guessed); Eddy, Thijs's father; Janis, Janis Joplin.

Tokyo Rose was the composite name given to a number of Japanese broadcasters of propaganda in World War II.

Father Bach refers to the composer J S Bach.

One should also mention Judy, as in Ole Judy on the 1985 album.

As of 2024 we can add Bela (probably Bela Bartok) and (David) Bowie plus Nura and Gaia.

Track by track 15d Eruption (Part 4 - Answer, Orfeus, Euridice)

Archive number: 15d

Title: Eruption (Part 4 - Answer, Orfeus, Euridice)

Main Album: Moving Waves (Focus 2 in Holland)

Track number: 6d

Genre: Progressive Rock (Symphonic)

Studio: Sound Techniques Studio, 46a Old Church Street, Chelsea, London SW3

Length: 2' 57" (22' 57" the whole)

Composer: Thijs van Leer, (Tom Barlage, Jan Akkerman), Eelko Nobel, (Pierre van der Linden)

Musicians: Jan Akkerman – Electric guitars (Gibson Les Paul Customs), Bass; Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Piano, Voice; Cyriel Havermans - Bass; Pierre van der Linden - Drums

Producer: Mike Vernon

Engineer: Jerry Boys

Label: LP - Imperial, Blue Horizon CD – EMI Bovema, IRS, Red Bullet

Date of recording/release: April, May 1971/October 1971. CD - 1988, 1993, 2001

Alternative version: The original Eelke Nobel contribution can be heard briefly in the background on the Ramses Shaffy album Sunset Sunkiss.

Notes: Eruption is a brilliant composite piece that pulls together various musical elements. Album notes refer to as many as 15 different parts though the nature of the music means that there are overlaps and the debatable nature of deciding just where one part ends and another begins is reflected in the varied timings given. We present here our own attempt to convey what is included.

20:01-22:57

The final section appears to be edited down with overdubs possibly from the previous Answer, Orfeus and Euridice.

20:01-20:33 Answer

First we have the slow and fast parts of Answer

20:34-21:25 Orfeus

Then the 'violined' guitar and organ with heavy drums of Orfeus.

21:26-22:57 Euridice

Finally we have the piano and guitar then flute and piano with organ and bass of Euridice. At 22:34 heavy drums come in and their fading erupting sound ends the piece.

Note on Orpheus and Eurydice (from Wikipedia)

Orpheus, a figure from Greek mythology, was king of the Thracian tribe Cicones. Pindar calls him "father of songs". His name is not in Homer or Hesiod but he was known by the time of Ibycus (c 530 BC). He was believed to be one of the chief poets and musicians of antiquity and the inventor or perfector of the lyre. With his music and singing, he could charm wild beasts, coax trees and rocks to dance and even divert the course of rivers. As one of the pioneers of civilisation, he is said to have taught humanity the arts of medicine, writing and agriculture. He was also an augur and seer; practiced magical arts, especially astrology; founded or rendered accessible many important cults, such as those of Apollo and the Thracian god Dionysus; instituted mystic rites public and private; prescribed initiatory and purificatory rituals. In addition, Pindar describes him as harpist and companion to Jason and the Argonauts.

The most famous story in which he figures involves his wife Eurydice (Agriope). While fleeing from Aristaeus, Eurydice ran into a nest of snakes which bit her fatally on her legs. Distraught, Orpheus played such sad songs and sang so mournfully that all the nymphs and gods wept. On their advice, Orpheus travelled to the underworld and by his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (the only one who ever did), so that they agreed to let Eurydice return with him to earth on condition he walk in front of her and not look back until they had reached the upper world. In his anxiety he forgot and turned to look. She vanished a second time, now forever. The story in this form belongs to Virgil's time. He first introduces the name Aristaeus. Other ancient writers speak of the visit to the underworld but the story may actually be a late addition to the Orpheus myths.

Classical compositions featuring the story include those by Monteverdi, Telemann, Gluck, Haydn, Liszt, Offenbach, Stravinsky, etc.

Track by track 15c Eruption (Part 3 - Euridice, Dayglow, Endless Road)

Archive number: 15c

Title: Eruption (Part 3 - Euridice, Dayglow, Endless Road)

Main Album: Moving Waves (Focus 2 in Holland)

Track number: 6c

Genre: Progressive Rock (Symphonic) Studio: Sound Techniques Studio, 46a Old Church Street, Chelsea, London SW3

Length: 5' 25" (22' 57" the whole)

Composer: Thijs van Leer, (Tom Barlage, Jan Akkerman), Eelko Nobel, Pierre van der Linden

Musicians: Jan Akkerman – Electric guitars (Gibson Les Paul Customs), Bass; Thijs van Leer – Hammond organ, Piano, Voice, Flute, Mellotron; Cyriel Havermans - Bass; Pierre van der Linden - Drums

Producer: Mike Vernon

Engineer: Jerry Boys

Label: LP - Imperial, Blue Horizon CD – EMI Bovema, IRS, Red Bullet

Date of recording/release: April, May 1971/October 1971. CD - 1988, 1993, 2001

Alternative version: The original Eelko Nobel contribution can be heard briefly in the background on the Ramses Shaffy album Sunset Sunkiss.

Notes: Eruption is a brilliant composite piece that pulls together various musical elements. Album notes refer to as many as 15 different parts though the nature of the music means that there are overlaps and the debatable nature of deciding just where one part ends and another begins is reflected in the varied timings given. We present here our own attempt to convey what is included.

14:35-20:00

There is a definite caesura or pause at 14:35 and then we enter on the third and penultimate section.

14:36-16:16 Euridice

First we have Euridice by Eelko Nobel (van Leer's fellow singer when he was working with Ramses Shaffy). This begins with beautiful piano and guitar, then the organ comes in. The flute takes up the lead at 15:14 with bass. From 15:53 to 16:16 it is the heavily reverbed solo flute that rounds off the piece.

16:17-17:53 Dayglow

The next part begins with a monk-like voice and organ to be succeeded (16:47-17:19) by organ and 'violined' guitar. At 17:18 a mellotron comes in featuring voices and a horn-like sound. At 17:52 a transition is signalled with bass, cymbals and the horn-like mellotron.

18:24-20:00 Endless Road

This transitional part leads into van der Linden's drumbreak.